DHL Supply Chain: Lockdown has shone a light on the long-term opportunities for small and mid-size businesses
DHL Supply Chain has grown its fulfilment business by 150% in just eight months, following soaring demand in e-commerce. The growth has come from new customers requiring dedicated e-Commerce fulfilment operations, as well as an increasing number of small and mid-size businesses accessing DHL’s shared fulfilment solution.
The shared network includes a strategically located e-Commerce facility providing storage, pick, pack and carrier management to facilitate direct-to-consumer shipping, offering a fast and high quality service. This service is designed to give small to mid-size businesses their own channel to market and the opportunity to scale up.
Recent customers in the shared network include U-Earth, a company specialising in air purification through biotechnology, and creators of U-Mask – the first biotech mask that reduces and neutralises the passage of bacteria and viruses inside the mask. During the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, U-Mask saw demand for its face coverings increase dramatically overnight. U-Mask turned to DHL to support its expansion internationally and help manage the increase in demand. Since moving to DHL’s fulfilment network, the business has seen its TrustPilot score increase from 2 to 4.3 and a positive impact on customer feedback.
Filippo Pietrantonio, Digital Operations Manager at U-Mask said: “e-Commerce has been a lifeline for businesses through the periods of lockdown but it’s also shone a light on the long-term opportunities for small and mid-size businesses to market beyond the boundaries of offline sales. With our shared fulfilment operation, growing businesses have the opportunity to access a level of service that was historically the preserve of big online retailers and marketplaces. Now they are able to compete on speed and quality of service without investing in a dedicated network.”
“We’ve all witnessed the significant growth in online shopping over the last year, both for the B2C and B2B markets, and we’re extremely proud to be supporting U-Mask on its growth journey from essentially a start-up to a multimillion euro business in a matter of months. Our fulfilment solution really allows SME players to focus on the things they do well and feel safe that we’re dealing with all their logistics needs,” added Spencer Conday, MD for Supply Chain Solutions at DHL Supply Chain.
